Keyhole Chichlid Reoccurring Constipation Problems.

Hello all. One of my 7 keyhole cichlids appears to be having constipation problems. He looks bloated/swollen around the anal area and has some slight discoloration around the area. This has been going on for a couple months. Twice now I have put him in quarantine, fed peas followed by a 3-4 day fast. The swelling and discoloration go away and he looks normal again. Once I put him back into the main tank and he starts eating normally again the problems return. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

Hello all. One of my 7 keyhole cichlids appears to be having constipation problems. He looks bloated/swollen around the anal area and has some slight discoloration around the area. This has been going on for a couple months. Twice now I have put him in quarantine, fed peas followed by a 3-4 day fast. The swelling and discoloration go away and he looks normal again. Once I put him back into the main tank and he starts eating normally again the problems return. Any ideas or suggestions?

Could you post a picture of this? I dealt with a very similar problem and it ended up being worms but a picture will help diagnose it. What suede tank is it and what’s the rest of the stock? What are the water parameters.

 

Since your other six Keyhole Cichlids aren't experiencing any digestive problems, chances are the noted Keyhole might have a specific physical / intestinal disorder that is going to cause continual digestive problems. You might try regularly mixing in a plant based flake or pellet food. I feed Omega One Kelp pellets to my Africans cichlids.

 

Tank is 55 Gallon with 7 keyholes, 1 bolivian ram, 12 harlequin rasboras, 12 pepper corys and 1 rio-negro plec. Params 7.9, 0, 0, 25-30 ppm. As you can see in the pic when he's bloated his poo comes out of that hole on his side instead of directly under him. I've noticed all my keyholes bum holes are a bit off center but this ones is way too the side. Maybe suggesting other deformity problems. This particular keyhole is the smallest of the group.

 

IMO, as noted above, I think you are dealing with a fish with a physical defect.

 

Agreed that definitely looks like a defect. That is very odd that the anus is on the side. You said none of your other keyholes are like this?

By the way your tank is beautiful!

 

I'm starting to think that is the case as well. I also feed omega one pellets along with fluval bug bites and a few other occasional treats. When the keyholes were quarantined 2 months ago they went through a 2 week paraguard treatment, and a kanaplex treatment. I assume most parasite, fungal or bacterial problems would have been taken care of then. And yes nedpatrick none of the other keyholes have symptoms like this and have normal anatomy. (anus of the underside) He shows now signs of discomfort. He's active, eating and colored up like everyone else. I feel like if I keep him in the main tank with normal feedings he'll eventually succumb to whatever his defect may be. Or else I could put him by himself in my empty 20 gallon with a special diet. Not sure what course to take in the scenario.